Hendrix's bass player Noel Redding dies at 57

12:01AM BST 14 May 2003

The rock musician Noel Redding, who played bass guitar for Jimi Hendrix in the 1960s, has died. He was 57.

A stream of tributes followed after Redding's manager Ian Grant announced on his website that the star died on Sunday. He said Redding died at his home in Ireland but did not give the circumstances of the death.

The British musician was part of The Jimi Hendrix Experience along with drummer Mitch Mitchell and guitarist and singer Hendrix. He played on the debut album Are You Experienced, which established Hendrix as a singer and composer. The group broke up shortly before Hendrix died in 1970.

His girlfriend Deborah McNaughton told yesterday of her shock at Redding's death. She said: "Noel was an extremely gentle and gracious soul. He had a kind of chivalry and nobility about him."